The Scifres Family: September brings colder weather and busier lives........

Many of you probably already know that we are embarking on a new journey in our household this school year! Steve is going back to school for a second masters in administration. He is very excited to be advancing his career with this degree, but for the next year our lives will be very busy. The program is designed for full time teachers, so classes are held on the weekends. Every other weekend he has school all day Saturday and Sunday and then additional online and class work during the week. Needless to say, he is very busy and Ava and I are spending a lot of time just the two of us. Ava and I have been making the best of it and using those weekends to have special mommy and daughter time. We also make sure to enjoy every minute on the weekends Steve is home!

Even though it has been a busy start to the school year, it definitely has been a good one! I am really enjoying my new class this year and have taken on some leadership roles that have kept me busy, but in a very good way! Most importantly, Ava is in love with her new school and so am I! I was very nervous about daycare, even though I had heard nothing but amazing things about her school. I was more nervous for the change in her schedule as well as mine. I was used to having someone come to our home and not just someone, but the amazing Anna who Ava adores! I was nervous I wouldn't be able to get her out the door, make her meals every night, and leave school in time to pick her up by 4. My biggest fear was that she wouldn't be happy and I couldn't deal with tears every morning and afternoon. I am so grateful that it has been a smooth transition for both her and I. We have our routines down and they are working well for us. I have to leave work a little earlier than I am used to, but have been learning to make up the missed work by doing a little bit every night.

At 20 months she is changing daily and we can't even believe she will be 2 in 4 months!

Here are some things she is up to at 20 months......

- Eating like a champ! (So happy about that, we had a rough couple of months with eating)

- Sleeping about 11 - 12 hours a night. On the weekends she will sleep in until 7:45, but I have to wake her up at 7 during the week which she doesn't love.

- Talking more and more each day. She can say some 3 word phrases like "I see Mama" or "I don't know." She more consistently sticks to 2 word phrases.

- Counting (Not in order, but we don't care). She will say, 1, 2, 9......doesn't see a purpose for 3 through 8! :)

- Loves books and is remembering the patterns in many of them. She can repeat parts of "Brown Bear Brown Bear" and it is really adorable.

- Her hair is getting longer (finally), but she won't even let me brush it! I can foresee this being battle for many years to come.

Here are some pictures from this past month and daycare (Her wonderful teacher sends me pictures throughout the day and it always brightens up my day).